Hours after Salinas police Chief Kelly McMillin stressed two officers acted within policy in killing Osman Hernandez on Friday evening in an East Alisal Street parking lot, the 26-year-old’s family released a statement decrying the fatal shooting as “excessive” and “senseless.”

They’ve since hired Christopher Dolan, of San Francisco-based Dolan Law Firm, to conduct a review of the facts.

Hernandez, originally from El Salvador, was killed near Mi Pueblo supermarket, where officers responded at 7:23 p.m. Friday to reports of a man attacking patrons with a knife. Officers’ attempts at hailing Hernandez in English and Spanish were unsuccessful, McMillin said Thursday.

After deploying his Taser electronic stun gun, a Spanish-speaking officer was able to knock Hernandez to the ground. When he attempted to handcuff a still non-compliant Hernandez, the 26-year-old revealed a knife hidden in his waistband, police said.

Two officers standing above Hernandez immediately fired shots.

Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Thursday, the family demanded an independent investigation.

“They killed Osman like a dog as he lay on the ground,” a family spokesperson said. “Why are we to trust them investigating themselves? Why does it take so many bullets to the head to subdue a man who is already lying on the ground?”

Dolan, a civil rights attorney, called for police to only use the minimum amount of force necessary.

“Mr. Hernandez didn’t even have a weapon in his hand when he was gunned down,” Dolan said. “Officers are trained how to disarm a suspect, and it’s not by shooting them in the head over and over.”

On the family’s behalf, Dolan said he plans to hire private investigators to speak with witnesses, have Hernandez’s body transported to a private pathologist in Los Angeles for gunshot trajectory analysis and gunshot residue, and attain the assistance of use-of-force experts to examine the officers’ conduct.

He estimated Friday the medical review would take three weeks or more to complete. Meanwhile, Dolan said his team has filed Public Records Act requests with the Salinas Police Department.

Thus far, the family hasn’t decided whether to sue the city of Salinas, but it seems probable, Dolan said.

“I seems common sense that riddling a man lying on the ground with bullets, multiple shots to the face and torso, to be an unnecessary, excessive use of force,” he said.

Dolan also called into question Salinas police officers’ claims that Hernandez, a field worker, brandished a 10-inch lettuce knife at them.

“Unlike the police, who appear to have adopted a shoot first and ask questions later approach, we are going to gather the facts before going off half-cocked,” he said.

Dolan requested anyone with information to contact the Dolan Law Firm at 425-421-2800 or to email help@dolanlawfirm.com.

McMillin said he wouldn’t comment on what may be pending litigation. Salinas City Attorney Chris Callihan was not available for comment because city offices are closed on Fridays.